Download PDF version:  The Church is the French Fleet at Mers El Kébir, Algeria in 1940

Having watched a documentary of the attack of the British Navy on the French Navy, shortly after France capitulated to the Germans in June 1940, the Lord spoke to me a few days later telling me that the Church is in the same position as the French Navy at the time prior to the battle.

Background

This is a brief account of what transpired at Mers El Kébir.  After the invasion and the surrender of France to the Germans, the French government was in transition from Paris to Vichy, France in the south.  This region was formally designated as the unoccupied zone, to be governed by the Vichy government.  The French had signed an armistice surrendering approximately half of their country to German control in 1940, and soon began to collaborate with the German military against the allies.  However, by November 1942, the Germans and the Italians occupied the balance of France, ending any appearance of the pseudo-French government being viewed as independent of control from the Axis powers.

Given the devastating news of the fall of France in 1940, Winston Churchill, prime minister of Great Britain, made the decision that the risk of the French Navy falling into hands of the Germans was too great.  As a result, he first ordered French ships, currently in harbors at Plymouth and Portsmouth, be seized in port by Royal Marines, and their crews detained.

In addition, Vice-Admiral Sir James F. Somerville was given orders to sail “Force H” of the British Navy from Gibraltar to negotiate with the French Admiral Gensoul stationed at the port city of Mers El Kébir (at Oran, Algeria) on July 3, 1940, who commanded part of the French fleet.  Gensoul commanded two fast battle cruisers, two battleships, six destroyers and one seaplane tender that were currently in port.  Somerville was to present the British government’s ultimatum to Gensoul upon arriving that included the following –

1. Join Britain in the war against Germany and immediately move all French ships to British harbors.
2. Bring all ships to British ports where crews and ships will be repatriated at the end of the war.
3. Demilitarize all ships to the satisfaction of the British.
4. Sink your own ships.

Britain was not prepared, under any conditions, to have the French Navy fall into the hands of the Germans, or the Italians, to be used against them in the Mediterranean.  If Admiral Gensoul did not agree to the above terms, Somerville was ordered to fire upon the French fleet and either sink or severely damage all French ships at Mers El Kébir.  Somerville despised his orders from Churchill to engage a former ally, however, he was determined to obey his orders.

What is clear in my study of this event, is that the French were in a severely compromised situation and their failure to take decisive action led to tragic and deadly consequences.  The facts are as follows:

• The newly transitioned French Vichy government was in disarray and severely compromised now that their government had become a puppet government of Germany.
• The Commander of the French Navy, Admiral Darlan, now reporting to the Vichy government, commanded Admiral Gensoul to “stand his ground” against the British ultimatum. Hardly the appropriate position for the long-standing loyal ally of Great Britain.
• Admiral Gensoul was indignant that the message from Admiral Somerville was sent by Captain Holland.  Gensoul first refused to meet with a mere Captain, stalling the negotiations a number of different times during the day.  Finally, Gensoul presented alternative plans, ensuring that the French fleet under his command would never fall into the hands of the enemy.  However, he had made it clear that if the British attacked his ships, the French would return fire.

When the negotiations broke off, Captain Holland was ordered to return to Force H, now sitting off the coast of the Oran, preparing to fire on the French fleet if Vice-Admiral Somerville did not receive a favorable response by 1730 from Admiral Gensoul.  Not having received a favorable response, Force H commenced its attack on the French fleet at 1754, damaging or sinking two fast cruisers, one battleship and three destroyers, killing over 1297 French sailors.

The Prophetic Word to the Church

The Holy Spirit revealed to me that the Church is in a similar situation with the King of kings, and the Lord of lords – Captain of the Lord’s hosts (Jos 5:14-15).  Like France in 1940, the Church is overrun and compromised by the deception and the presence of the enemy within her four walls.  Leaders who have rejected the voice of the Holy Spirit for decades, preventing Him from moving in power, have succumbed to the darkness, control and deception of the enemy.  Similar to Admiral Gensoul, they stand in pride and rebellion to the Captain of the Lord of hosts and His army – The Force of Heaven.  Many Church leaders no longer seek the praise of their Master, Jesus Christ, but rather seek the praise of men (Jn 12:43).

The Lord demands an unconditional surrender by His leaders and His flock to His Holy Spirit!  This is His command – change or perish!  He will not negotiate a peace.  Immediate surrender is the only path for you to be saved from His terrible wrath and to be delivered from the enemy’s darkness.  The Lord has said, “Woe unto those who stand against Me in the day of My wrath.”  Church leaders must understand that judgment begins in the house of the Lord (I Pt 4:17).

Many churches are already marked for wrath and closure if there is no repentance.  Pastors, Church leaders, and congregations – you have been warned.  The time to repent is now, or you will be judged.  If you do not repent, His judgment will fall upon you like rain, because you deserve no less.  What will you say when the Lord brings you before Him if you do not repent?  Will you be saved from the judgment He inflicts on Earth, followed by the fires of Hell?  No, you will not; having been found, in the end, standing in active rebellion to your Master.

You have been warned.  The Force of Heaven awaits your response.  You dare not wait another hour.  The Lord has said, “My Church (that stands in rebellion) has no idea what I will send against it.”  Once your decision is made, the Lord will act accordingly.  Any delay is a decision.

Mark C. Biteler